Wave-motor.



G. F. A. R'l'jELL.

WAVE moms.-

(Aggliqa tiqn filed Aug. 31 18 98.)

No. 643,608. Patented Feb. l3, i900.

(No Model.)

2 SheetsSheet l.

Inventor Gil 14.135265.

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' ATTORNEYS THE "cams Prrzns ca. PHOTO-LlTHO-, wnsmus'ron. o. c.

No. 643,608. Patented Feb. l3, I900. c. F. A. ROELL.

WAVE MOTOR.-

(Application filed Aug. :31, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Fig. III.

Inventor 6TJ'T'A.R0"QZL.1

m: NORRIS Pz'rzas co. PHOTO-LITHIL WASHINGTON, o. c.

UNITED STATES I a FFICE.

PATENT CORNELIS F. A. RGELL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I-IALF TO JOHN G. ORTH, OF SAME PLACE.

- WAVE-MOTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,608, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed August 31,1898. Serial No. 689,949. (No model.)

T0 00% whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CoRNELIs F. A. RoELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wave-Motors, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in wave-motors; and my invention consists in certain features of novelty hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure I is a side elevation of my improved motor. Fig. II is a side elevation of the pumps connected with the motor. Fig. 'III is a transverse section taken on line III III, Fig. I. Fig. IV is a vertical section taken on line IV IV, Fig. II. Fig. V is a plan view of the eccentric for operating the pump.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a wharf or platform of any approved construction, extending out over the water, and 2 the piles for supporting the same.

3 represents my improved power device which is vertically adjustable in order to compensate for the rise and fall of the tides.

4. 5 represent suitable floats spaced apart, and 6 a power wheel located between the floats. The power-wheel 6 is supported on the lower end of a vertical movable shaft 7, said shaft 7 extending upward through the platform and through a suitable supportingbracket 8, said bracket being secured to the top of the platform at 9. The power-wheel is provided with a series of pivoted slats 10, which open and close by the action of the water, according to whichever side the pressure is brought to bear upon the same. The water passing through one side of the wheel and traveling inward closes the slats and rotates the wheel, while the water passing inward on the opposite side of the wheel causes the slats to open and does not retard the movement of the wheel, the same action taking place by the return undercurrent, with the exception that the force is exerted on the opposite side of the wheel, thus giving continuous force'to the wheel and revolving the shaft 7. The shaft 7 may be connected with any approved device for transmitting power. I have shown an eccentric 11, secured to the shaft 7 by a feather 12, traveling in a vertical slot 13, so as to permit the shaft 7 to rise and fall with the tide as it is forced up by the floats 4. 5 or falls with the tide.

14 represents a pitman connected at 15 with a pump-piston 16. t

17 18 19 represent pump-cylinders in which the piston 16 operates.

20 represents a supply or suction pipe, and

- 21 a pressure-pipe.

It is well known that the power of the waves or tides is intermittent and irregular, according to the diiference of the size of the waves, the effect of the wind upon the same, and for numerous other reasons, and that while one wave may exert a force of one-horse power upon the motor the succeeding wave may exert a force of two-horse power or more. Thus in a motor where the load is always the same the power is frequently disproportionate. In order to equalize this feature of power and load, I have adopted a means which I will now describe.

Instead of using one pump I use a series of pumps, as shown in Fig. II, certain of these pumps being so arranged that they are automatically thrown into operation as a greater amount of power is exerted upon the motor.

22 represents a by-pass or short-circuit pipe connecting the suction-pipe with the pressurepipe at points above and below the inlet and outlet of the pump-cylinders 17 18.

23 represents a cut-off valve having a stem 24, the upper end of said stem being secured to a stirrup 25.

26 represents an antifriction -roller journaled to the upper end of the stirrup 25.

27 represents a horizontal bar having camlike faces 28, said bar operating within the stirrup 25, and as it is drawn to the left the antifriction-wheels 26 ride up upon the cams 28, thus raising the stirrup 25, the valve-stems 24, and the valve 23. When the valve 23 is opened by the means described, it will be seen that the pump with which it is connected will cease to throw water through the dischargepipe, the water taking a short circuit back through the pipe 22. As the cams are placed at different positions on the bar 27, the pumps are not thrown out of operation simultaneously, but one byone, accordingto the power being exerted.

29 represents brackets secured to the pumpcylinders and in which are journaled rollers 30, on which the bar 27 travels. The bar 27 is connected at its right-hand end by a chain or cord 3l,having a weight 32 at its opposite end. \Vhen all the pumps are in operation, this weight will draw the bar 27 to the right, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. II, allowing the valve 23 to close and permitting all the pumps to operate.

33 represents a pulley over which the chain 31 operates.

I will now describe my means in connection with the motor for throwing the pumps into and out of operation.

3i represents an auxiliary float resting upon the water and having a vertical shaft 35, said shaft being movable vertically in passing through the bearing 36, supported by the platform. On the upper end of the shaft 35 is a cylinder 37, which is also movable vertically. WVithin the cylinder 37 is a piston 38 on the upper end of the shaft 35. The upper end of the cylinder 37 is provided with a ring 39, to which is secured one end of a cable 40, the opposite end of said cable being secured to the inner end of the bar 27.

41 represents pulleys forming bearings for the cable 40.

42 represents a by-pass pipe connecting the upper end of the cylinder 37 with its lower end.

In operation when the tide or wave is low the float 3th is accordingly low, the cylinder 37 is depressed into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. I, the bar 27 is drawn to the left, and the valves are opened, thus throwing the pumps 17 and 18 out of action through the means described. If the float 3t has only descended through a portion of its travel, then the pump 17 will be the only one thrown out of action, the pump 18 remaining in action until the float 3-1: falls still lower, thus regulating the load or the work to be done with the power exerted to do the work. The pipe I2 of the cylinder 37 acts as a cushion to the rise and fall of the float 3i by the liquid therein being forced through said pipe, according to the position of the piston 38. The float 34: is provided with a lip 43, which extends over the float 4: of the power-wheel, so that the rising of the float -t and the power-wheel causes the float 31 to rise.

44 represents a shield placed in close proximity to the powcuwheel, said shield serving to direct the water onto the slats of the wheel.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a wave-motor, the combination of upper and lower floats, a rotatable wheel interposed between the floats, and movable slats pivoted to said wheel, forth.

2. In a wave-motor, the combination of upa rotatable power-wheel substantially as set per and lower floats,

a shaft connected with the power-wheel and floats, a pump and means for connecting said shaft with the pump, substantially as set forth.

5. In a wave-motor, the combination of upper and lower floats, a power-wheel connected with the floats and moving in a horizontal plane, pivoted slats connected with the powerwheel, and means for transmitting power from the power-wheel to a power-transmitting mechanism, substantially as set forth.

6. In a wave-motor, the combination of a power-wheel, a series of pumps and automatic means in connection with the power-wheel for throwing one or more of said pumps out of action, substantially as set forth.

7. In a wave-motor, the combination of a suitable power device, a series of pumps, short-circuit pipes connected with said pumps, a valve in said short-eircuit pipes and means in connection with the motor for opening and closing said valve, substantially as set forth.

8. In a wave-motor, the combination of a suitable power device, an auxiliary float, a lip on the auxiliary float adapted to extend over the power device, a series of pumps and means in connection with said auxiliary float for throwing said pumps in and out of action, substantially as set forth.

9. In a wave-motor, the combination of a suitable power device, an auxiliary float, a piston connected with said float, a cylinder on said piston, one or more pumps, a shortcircuit pipe connected with said pumps, a valve in the short-circuit pipe, a stem on said valve, a stirrup connected with said stem, and a bar having cam-shaped faces operating in said stirrup and connected with a cylinder on the auxiliary float whereby the pumps are thrown in and out of operation, substantially as set forth.

10. In a wave-motor, the combination of a suitable power device, a series of pumps, a short-circuit pipe connected with said pump, a valve in said pipe, a stirrup connected with said valve, a roller at the upper end of said stirrup, a horizontal bar having cam-shaped faces, a weight connected with one end of said horizontal bar, an auxiliary float, and means for connecting'the auxiliary float with the op posite end of said bar, substantially as set forth.

ets on which the horizontal bar travels and means for moving said horizontal bar to the 10 right or left, substantially as set forth.

OORNELIS F. A. ROELL.

Witnesses:

J. W. KEMP, JAs. E. KNIGHT. 

